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Friday, June 22, 2012

Summer Time has
arrived in Colorado! We are experiencing days in the 90’s and even
hotter! I remember when I first moved to Colorado in 1978…you know the
“olden days”….the rare person had air conditioning in their homes. Every
afternoon at about 3:00 it would rain gently for a bit and then the sun would
come out again. It cooled things off so beautifully! A day in the
90’s was rare for sure! Chuck says he remembers when Fort Collins ended
at Prospect Avenue.

Things do
change…..this year’s Birthday qualified me for Social Security. Wow! Life
feels like it changes and goes by in a blink. I hear the 1950’s referred
to as “mid century.” That can make you feel ancient. I remember my
sister and I visiting a Flea Market together and we were cracking up at all the
things that we had from our childhood that are referred to as “vintage.”
We certainly in our minds eye are still the young chickies we always thought we
were….at least that is how it feels until we look in the mirror. I have
found if I look in the mirror without my tri-focals on, I have not a wrinkle or
age spot on my face!! Try it! It works!!

On to quilting…….where
wrinkles can easily be taken care of with an iron! Pictured below are
Savannah (Bee) and myself holding the Moda Bag from Spring Market. This
bag is going to be filled with fun items, a total surprise for the person who
wins it! We will be drawing for the prize on July 13th and
notifying the winner in that Friday Post.

Hope you have a
great weekend, don’t forget that next Friday’s post will have the August themed
“Snowbuddies” embroidery pattern. We will be leaving the downloadable
patterns on the blogspot until next June so that you have the opportunity to
download them all. After that they will be removed and distributed as a
pattern that will be for sale.

Mini Moments
from Bee………….

There is a lot of things you
can do in a summer. You can go fishing, camping, vacation, picnics, bike rides,
and swimming just to name a few. Well here is a great idea to make sure almost
everything gets done that you are interested in. It's called a Summer Bucket
List.

How To Get Your Summer
Bucket List Started-

1.You buy a bucket (small one is great) and
write down all your summer want to dos on strips of cardstock.

2.Then you put all the strips
in the bucket. You can put this bucket by a bulletin board or something else.

3.Then when you get the time to do one of the
activities you can draw a strip from the bucket and then you have something fun
to do that day. Make sure to take lots of pictures at your events. Then you can
hang that event strip on the bulletin board along with a picture or two.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Today we drew the
winner of the “Woolie’s Brown Bag Strip Kit.” Our computer generated
winner is……..Pam Hagar. Congratulations!! We will be emailing
you for mailing information. This is so much fun!!

We have started
our “Summer Hours” at the shoppe. We are only open on Thursday, Friday
and Saturday. Always going against the grain, I have shorter Summer Hours
than Winter Hours…go figure. Actually, this is the first step in creating
the classroom space and classes on the days that I am closed. With a
smaller retail space it is hard to set up and operate classes while the shoppe
is open. Last Sunday, we had about eight ladies here just having a great
time stitching and extending friendship. Nancy promised us a Chantily
Cake from Whole Foods and we were not disappointed. I loved that I got
the leftovers to share with Chuck. We had plenty of healthy and not so
healthy snacks to choose from. I love the spirit of sharing and caring
when two or more come together. Stay tuned as we offer some really fun
classes and I encourage you to contact us if you have a group of ladies that
would like to use our space or have me teach a special class for you.

Last Friday night
we had this enormous bus pull up and empty out 40 excited quilters from
Texas. It was about the wildest hour and fifteen minutes that we have
experienced in a long while. Since we knew these ladies would be
visiting, I decided to make it “Free Kit” day at the shoppe. Why not make
the day a bit wilder and crazier! I have at least one “Free Kit” day per
month, it is a small project that I design just for this reason. Ladies
need to walk into the shoppe to get their kit. Pretty easy! We have
been known to giveaway anywhere from 50 to over 300 kits in one day!! The
little kits are free for that day and then put out for sale the next day.
Soooo, “Bee” came in to be the distributor of “Free Kits.” A lot of you
Blog followers got to meet her, not that she is famous, but it was sure fun for
her!!! Our Texas ladies were able to experience our Shoppe, get a free
kit and become “Woolies.” Deb tells us that we converted a lot of ladies
over to wool. For sure we could tell that we made some new friends and
followers. Thanks Y’All!!! Come again anytime, we loved it!!

Today, Bee and I are
eating the best homemade tamales imaginable!! A local woman makes and
sells them and today they were steaming fresh right out of the cooker.
They were so hot we could barely touch them. Well, I consumed
one and Bee couldn’t resist and had two. I am sitting here watching
her while she eats, picks out perle cotton colors and is blanket
stitching. She is definitely going to be a multi tasking woman some
day. I often realize just how your genes can filter down to
grandchildren. I may begin to call her “mini me” instead of “bee.”

I received a
really cool Bag from Moda while at Market in Kansas City. Our next post
will show the bag and we will have some surprise contents for the NEXT
GIVEAWAY. Watch for details!!

Have a wonderful
weekend, we are hoping that the horrible wildfire in Northern Colorado will
soon become contained. So many of our friends have been affected by this
disaster. Homes are lost, but so is the magnificent landscape of
Colorado. We are praying for a huge rain storm that will snuff out the
entire fire and people can begin to rebuild their lives and homes.

Mini Moments
from Bee……………

Well, recital was
amazing. I danced my little heart out. It was great having my family and
friends there to cheer me on.

My brother, Cody
has been gone for a week. He is at camp in Estes Park with his church youth group. I have been
the only child, it’s been fun, but also boring. Without my brother around I
don’t have anyone to play with, with it being summer and most people are out
doing something else. Thankfully, he comes home today. I will enjoy his
presence. I can’t wait to hear and see him again.

Today I think of
all the firefighters at the High Park Fire trying to contain the fire. I pray
for and thank them. I also think of all the homes that have been either evacuated
or burnt down. I just pray that the Lord would look over the firefighters and
the residents of the affected area. God bless them all!

Friday, June 8, 2012

I can honestly say
that Summer is here! We have had such a warm Winter and Spring that it
has been hard to define just when Summer would begin. Last night was the
first Concert in the Park and the streets were full of families coming and
going to the park to enjoy the food and music. Since we are now living
downtown on Main Street it is so much fun to see and be a part of the activity
without even starting my car! I sometimes feel I am out of a romance
novel living over the Shoppe. It really is quite comfortable and this big
antique building has welcomed us in so many ways. Watch for future posts
where I will share photos of our little home and some of the fun decorating
ideas that I have used.

I have been
spending lots of time in my storage units and have been finding some boxes with
cool things in them. Today, we introduce the “Posies Treasure Box”
kit. It is an 8” X 8” white box with a cool divided tray on the
inside. I love nothing more than finding a box or tin that I can
embellish with one of my designs. It is a challenge that soars me through
the air. I found 32 of these boxes in the way back of my storage
unit. I obviously had some vision for them. So, I dug them out and
this box is embellished with a Penny Rug on the lid and a wrap around Penny Rug
for the box bottom. One of the coolest parts of this box is a sectioned
tray that fits just inside of the box. Perfect for your treasures, sewing
jewelry or whatever your heart desires. The design features a white wool
oval on the center front of the lower portion of the box. I have used
this spot to personalize my box with my initials. You can do the same or
add whatever you like. Perfect for yourself, or a perfect gift for that
special someone in your life. The kit is available for $48.00, includes
the Box, all the Wool for the Penny Rug on the lid and box. We are happy
to ship to you or stop by the shop and pick one up, while the supply
lasts. Call the Shoppe to order a kit – 970-686-5642.

I hope you have
downloaded your next “Snowbuddies” embroidery pattern. Some of you tell
us that you are just getting the first one, but we have checked and both are on
the site to download. You may need to go to “Home” to update the latest
postings.

You still have
time to sign up for the “Woolies Brown Bag” Kit that we will be drawing for on
June 15th. You can check a previous blog posting for that
information.

Have a great
weekend, stay safe and be happy!

Mini Moments
from Savannah –

Do you remember
that Windsor had a tornado on the last day of school four years ago? We
had a big storm last night and it made me think of the tornado. Before
the storm we went to the Concert in the Park and it was really fun. We
had hamburgers, chips and a drink. It was fun. There were a lot of
kids there and we got to see some of our friends. I am so glad it is
Summer time!

Friday, June 1, 2012

Today, Savannah
and I shared some stitching time. She helped me with the “64 Posie
Basket” Class yesterday and we decided that since she has been doing Backstitch
embroidery since she was three that it is time to move on to the Blanket
stitch. She is pictured stitching on one of the “64 Posie Basket”
Blocks. She selected her wools and traced the shapes onto Heat n Bond
Lite, fused them onto her wool colors, cut them out and ironed them on to her
background getting her applique piece ready to embroider. Before
her lesson in embroidery, she had fun rummaging through my basket of different
threads. She selected a #8 Perle Cotton in light blue. As I write
this, she is stitching away and making quite beautiful Blanket stitches!

I have been
working on my re-creation of the “1894” Crazy Quilt that I have treasured for
years in my collection of Quilts. This crazy quilt is unique because it
is all pieced with cotton fabrics, no fancy fabrics and is embellished with
beautiful embroidery throughout the quilt. It consists of 12 – 22”
squares of foundation muslin that has been embellished with a variety and
textures of cottons all added in “crazy quilt fashion.” Each month we are
re-recreating an additional block for the quilt that we hope will be ready to
go together in about a year or so???????? I am redesigning the blocks and
giving step by step instructions on assembling each of the blocks. Holy
Smokes! All twelve blocks are different! It is a challenge, but so
rewarding. I have ordered in hand-dyed cottons to give that worn
and weathered look of the cottons from the original quilt. Pictured below
on the top is my reproduction block and on the bottom is the original.
First month out we have not yet added the fancy embroidery that will go along
the seams between the different fabric pieces, but we will!! Anyone still
interested in joining this project, there is still time. Give us a call
for details…970-686-5642.

Here is the Free June downloadable embroidery Snowbuddies pattern Since we are working in advance it is actually July themed. Have fun!

Tip For The
Week………….Transfer Eze…….if
you haven’t tried it, I hope you will. It is $1.50 per sheet (8 1/2” X 11
½”) and it goes through your copier or printer. You place your embroidery
image that you want copied onto the glass window of your copier/printer and the
Transfer Eze goes through and makes a copy of the image. Peel the product
apart and place the copied image directly onto your fabric and finger pressure
press into place. Then you embroider through the product directly onto
the fabric. This is great for those that do not like to trace or for
those dark fabrics that are impossible to trace onto. When all your
embroidery is complete, simply soak in water and the Transfer Eze dissolves and
disappears. It is incredible! I used it on one of the dark fabrics
in the “1894 Crazy Quilt” block. Check out your local Quilt Shop and see
if they have it to try, or give us a call and we can ship to you.

Mini Moment
from Bee:

It’s fun to be at
the shoppe. Yesterday, I helped my Tee Tee with a class. I showed
the ladies how to peel the paper off the back of the fabrics. Today I am
learning to Blanket Stitch. Tee Tee has taught me how, and once you get
the hang of it, it is pretty easy. The hardest part is threading the
needle.

I am having dress
rehearsals and photos getting ready for my big Recital Weekend. It
is a busy time!!

About Me

I love quilting, embroidery and flea markets!!!
I am a Folk Art Quilt Pattern Designer – featuring Wool Applique.
I love my family who inspire me creatively!!
I love laughter and hugs!
I hold friendships dear!
I love to teach, to share what I create and hope to inspire others to “Color Outside the Lines.”
I answer to Mom, Tee Tee, Nonnie and Grammie….just a few!
I am Chuck’s wife and caregiver.
About Savannah: (Bee)
I have nicknamed Savannah, “Bee” for surely she is the busiest little person I have ever known. At 10, she dances, sings, appears in Theatre productions, bakes, crafts and plays outside with her brother! She hosts her own Bible study each week. Life with Bee is different from moment to moment. She is a girl’s girl!! Bee loves to draw, loves to sew on her sewing machine and has been doing embroidery since she was 3. Savannah is Home Schooled.